Electric clothes drier



June 15, 1954 c. A; FINLEY 2,580,917 ELECTRIC CLOTHES DRIER Filed Feb.25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi .2 40 56 g 40 I U f 9 E 33 l QI QQQ.

Clyde A. Finley INVENTOR.

A Norm Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES SPATENT OFFICE 2,680,917ELECTRIC CLOTHES DRIER Clyde A. Finley, East Point, Ga. ApplicationFebruary 25, 1952, Serial No. 273,210 3 Claims. (Cl. 34-133) Thisinvention relates in general to an electric clothes drier, and morespecifically to an electric clothes drier for attachment to an electricwashing machine.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved electricclothes drier which may be attached to conventional spinner type washingmachines in order to convert same into a combined washing and dryingmachine for clothes.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved electricclothes drier in the form of a separate integral unit which may besecured to the exterior housing of conventional spinner type electricwashing machine, said machine being adapted to be connected into theelectrical circuit of the washing machine in order to be automaticallyconnected in sequence with the washing and rinsing stages of the washingmachine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved electricclothes drier which includes pipe means for connection to a washingmachine housing, heatin means, and blower means.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved electricclothes drier which is an integral unit which may readily be attached toa conventional spin type washing machine whereby an electric clothesdrying machine may be constructed at a low cost.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved attachmentfor electric washing machines in the form of an electric clothes drierhaving electric heating coils for heating air, said electric heatingcoils being provided with control means for varying heat of the coilsand the associated air passing thereover.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional spinner typewashing machine having attached thereto the improved electric clothesdrier attachment, which is the subject of this invention, parts of thewashing machine and clothes drier attachment being broken away and shownin sections in order to clearly illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a partial transverse horizontal sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of Figurel 2 and showing the arrangement of the tubes for conducting air from theclothes drier heating element to the interior of the electric washingmachine;

Figure 3 is a transverse horizontal sectional View taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 8-4-3 of Figure 1 andshowing the arrangement of a supporting plate for electric heating coilsand the means for supporting same;

Figure 4 is a partial transverse horizontal sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 34 of Figurel and showing the construction of an intermediate supporting plate forthe electric heating coils and the manner in which they are insulatedfrom said supporting plates;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional viewtaken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 ofFigure 1 and showing the construction of rod means on the pipescommunicating the heating means to the washing machine whereby water isprevented from passing into the pipes;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional viewshowing the means for supporting one end of a heating coil from one ofits associated supporting plates; and,

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit for the heatingattachment secured to the washing machine.

Similar characters of reference designate simi ar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the dilierentviews of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will is referred in generalby the reference numeral ill The washing machine i ll includes agenerally rectangular housing l2 having a base I 1 and a cover plate isat its upper end. Mounted within the housing i2 is a horizontalsupporting plate 18 adjacent the lower end thereof. The horizontalsupporting plate I8 is secured to the side walls of the housing 82 by anintegral flange 26 on each edge thereof, said flange 20 being secured tothe respective side wall of the housing [2 by conventional fasteners 22.The horizontal supporting plate It divides the housing I2 into an upperand lower compartment with a washing tub 24 mounted in the uppercompartment, and drive means mounted in the lower compartment. The drivemeans includes an electric motor 26 having a drive pulley 28 thereonover which is entrained a drive belt 30. The drive belt 39 is alsoconnected to a pulley (not shown) mounted on the lower end of a spinnerreceptacle for clothes, the spinner receptacle being referred to by thereference numeral 32.

It will be noted that the spinner receptacle 32 is rotatably mountedwithin the to portion 22- and has a plurality of apertures through itsside walls for the entrance of water, the apertures being referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 34. In the normal washing operation,the tub 24 is filled with water and clothes are depos ited within thespinner receptacle 3:! whereby they are spun within the water and washedin that manner. In order that the washing and rinsing cycles of thewashing machine it may be automatically controlled, the housing i2 isprovided with a control knob 36 on its front side.

When the clothes are washed within the wash ing machine it they arenormally spun dry due to the rotation of the spinner receptacle afterthe water has been emptied from the tub Iowever, since no heat isapplied to clothing within the receptacle the clothes removed therefromare still partially damp and need to be hung up for drying. In order toutilise the washing machine ii] for also drying clothing washed thereby,there is provided on the rear side thereof a heating structure which isreferred to in general by the reference numeral The heating structure 36includes a housing 38 which is best illustrated in Figures 2 through 5and includes a back wall iii, cu red side walls a top wall Ml, a bottomwall A and inturned flanges :58 at the sides and fail at bottom ed ethereof. The housing 33 is secured to the housing 12 of the washingmachine by a plurality of common fasteners 52 passing through theflanges 48 and 553 and securing same to the rear wall 54 of the housing52.

Carried by the housii g 38 adjacent the curved upper wall id is atransverse supporting plate having downturned flanges 5d and secured tothe housing 38 and the housing 52, respectively, by conventionalfasteners Secured to the supporting plate 5% are a plurality of curvedpipes ell having flared lower ends The pipes are secured to the pipesupporting plate 56 by a plurality of nuts 68 threadedly engagedthereon. Carried by the washing machine it are a plurality of pipes itwhich extend radially from the tub 24 and pass through openings :2 inthe rear wall 54 of the housing E2. The individual pipes lid and iii aredetacha'oly connected togetheby pipe sleeves i i disposed within thehousing 33. The other ends of the pipes T0 are secured in openings '56in the tub it by nuts '58 threadedly engaged on the pipes iii andengaging the opposite sides of the tub it. Each pipe it! is alsoprovided with a valve til at its inner end, the valve Bil being mountedwithin the tub 24 and is of the automatic closing type so as to prevententrance of water from the tub into the pipes it.

Also mounted within the housing 38 are heating coil supporting plates 82which are in vertical space relation and have vertically dependingflanges 84 and 36 for supporting same. The flanges 8d are secured to thehousing 3% and the flanges 85 are secured to the housing i2 in order tosupply means for supporting the heating coils and at the same time inorder to brace the housing 38. Carried by each of the heating coilsupporting plates 82 is a plurality of eye bolts Sii. The eye bolts 88are best illustrated in Figure 6 and include an eye portion 9%] and astem 92 which is provided with a nut 54 for securing the eye bolt 28 toits respective supporting plate 32. The eye Slit of each eye bolt 83 isprovided with an insulating bushing 95? through which is mounted one endof a heating coil 98.

As is best illustrated in Figure 1, each of the heating coils 98 aremounted in parallel space relation and connected in series. In orderthat the intermediate portion of each of the heating coils 98 may besupported out of engagement with an adjacent heating coil, the housingis provided with an intermediate wire supporting plate Hill which issecured to both the housing and the housing i2. As is best illustratedin Figure l, the intermediate wire supporting plate liiil is providedwith a plurality of apertures I92 in which are mounted insulatingbushings wt to which the intermediate portion of the heating coils (38pass.

In order that air may be forced over the heating coils 9B, the bottomwall of the housing '58 has secured thereto a supporting bracket Hi8which has mounted therein a conventional electric motor m3. Secured tothe armature iii) of the electric motor tilt is a fan H5: in order toprovide blower means for forcing air past the heating coils 98 andthrough the pipes =5? and iii. In order that air may pass into thehousing 38,

the rear wall it thereof is provided with an open- The opening lit ing 5iii adjacent the lower end. is provided with a screen lit to preventforeign matter from entering into the housing 33 and strialng the fan25?. and the heating coils 38.

As is best illustrated in Figures 3 and i, the supporting plates 55, B2and ieli are provided with a plurality of enlarged openings 1 it throughwhich air may pass after urged upwardly by the fan i it. As the heatedair passes through the apertures Hi2 of the upper heater coil supportingplate 82, it passes into the flared ends of the pipe E i and therebypasses i rough the openings H3 in the pipe supporting plate 5-5. Theheated air then passes into the pipe ill and forces open the valves Eliand enters the tub 2 in order that the cool air within the tub 2 may beremoved, the housing i2 is provided with a plurality of vent openingsltd adjacent the upper end thereof. It is readily apparent that dampclothing within the spinner receptacle will be dried by hot air passingin through the pipes "it and heating same.

Referring now to Figure '7 particularly, it will be seen that the motorand heating coils of the heating unit as are controlled by a singleswitch i222. Furthermore, in order that the temperature of the airpassing into the tub may be con trolled, there is mounted in series withthe heating coils ed a rheostat lid for controlling the flow of currentthereto.

Although there has not been illustrated means for connecting theelectrical circuit of the heating device with the electrical circuit ofthe electric washing machine iii, it is obvious that the two electricalcircuits may be connected so as to automatically control the heatingdevice at whereby heat will be produced after the clothing has been spundry. Also, while the heating device lit has been illustrated anddescribed as being attached to a generally rectangular housing of aconventional spinner type washing n1achine, it is not intended to solimit the invention. The housing 33 of the heating devi 'c 33 may bemodified so that it may be secured directly to a circular tub of acircular washing machine.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoingdescription of the details thereof, taken in connection with the aboverecited objects and drawings. Further description would appear to beunnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from theembodiment of the device illustrated and described here, may be resortedto without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A drying attachment for a washing machine having a hollow body, a tubwithin the a clothes basket rotatably mounted within the tub, saiddrying attachment including a housing secured to a rear wall of saidbody, said rear wall forming a wall of said housing, a blower dis posedin a lower portion of said housing, heating means disposed in saidhousing above said blower, duct means disposed in an upper housingcommunicating the interior of housing with said tub, said duct meansincluding check valves preventing accidental entrance of water into saidhousing, said heating means including a plurality of vertically spacedbrackets extending between said rear wall and a spaced wall of saidhousing, a plurality of electrical heating coils extending between andsupported by said brackets in insulated relation.

2. A drying attachment for a washing machine having a hollow body, a tubwithin the body, and a clothes basket rotatably mounted within the tub,said drying attachment including a housing secured to a rear wall ofsaid body, said rear wall forming a wall posed in a lower portion ofsaid housing, heating means disposed in said housing above said blower,duct means disposed in an upper portion of said housing communicatingthe interior of said housing with said tub, said duct means including aportion of said of said housing, a blower distransverse baflle in theupper portion of said housing, first apertures in said baflle, secondapertures in said tubs, pipes extending between said baffie and saidtub, opposite ends of said pipes passing through said first and secondapertures, check valves disposed within said tub mounted on ends of saidpipes for preventing flow of water into said pipes from said tub.

3. A drying attachment for a washing machine having a hollow body, a tubwithin the body, and a clothes basket rotatably mounted Within the tub,said drying attachment including a housing secured to a rear wall ofsaid body, said rear wall forming a wall of said housing, a blowerdisposed in a lower portion of said housing, heating means disposed insaid housing above said blower, duct means disposed in an upper portionof said housing communicating the interior of said housing with saidtub, said heating means including a plurality of vertically spacedbrackets extending between said rear wall and a spaced wall of saidhousing, a plurality of electrical heating coils extending between andsupported by said brackets in insulated relation, said duct meansincluding a transverse bafile in the upper portion of said housing,first apertures in said bafiie, second apertures in said tubs, pipesextending between said bafile and said tub, opposite ends of said pipespassing through said first and second apertures, check valves disposedwithin said tub mounted on ends of said pipes for preventing flow ofwater into said pipes from said tub.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,965,480 Stramaglia July 3, 1934 2,212,560 Foley Aug. 27,1940 2,328,256 Brechenbridge Aug. 31, 1943

